Enjoying Michelangeli's Beethoven

[samtrb]

that disc is quiet interesting, i am used to Gilels, Arrau, Perrahia and recently Argerich, i still have to listen to Serkin but for now i like Michelangeli. Is he the best in the first concerto? how does it compare to Richter?

[lachlanbutch]

Hmm strangely enough I've never heard Richter play the Beethoven piano concerti...nor Michelangeli for that matter

Myself, I'm used to the German/Austrians like Backhaus and Gulda

Have you watched the DVD "The Art of Piano"?

There's a section on Michelangeli which is quite fascinating...the accompanying performance of a Scarlatti sonata is jaw-dropping! It's interesting to note how he milked his "pop-star" status by hardly performing and keeping his repertoire very select...also too his gestures and perfectly crafted appearance in performance...always so aware of what he looked like to the audience... *shakes head*

-LB

[Holden]

Richter also recorded LvB 1&3 and hs best efforts are with Kondrashin as conductor though the sound is not wonderful. However, despite being a Richterphile and liking ABM you can do much better than this.

For PC#1 the Perahia/Haitink is just outstanding and I don't really consider others having heard this and comparing them.

PC#3 has a far larger range and great performances come from Rubinstein/Toscanini, Fischer/Fricsay and, my favourite, Solomon/Menges - stereo recording as well

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Listen to his Op. 111, a jaw-dropping performance. ABM was a classicist at heart and his interpretation of this is a far cry from the romanticism of Schnabel, Solomon, etc. It's scary how you can hear every single note so clearly, just like all of his other performances.

[Todd]

Is he the best in the first concerto?

I don't know if there's really a best take of any concerto, but if there is of this one, it wouldn't be Michelangeli or Richter.  I enjoy both a lot but find others better. 

For the first concerto I find Schnabel, Foldes (though a bit scrappy), Zacharias, Sherman, and Bronfman more to my liking.  One of my favorite takes was Piotr Anderszewski teamed with Yakov Kreizberg, but that was a concert.  Perhaps they can record it.  For the third I prefer Annie Fischer and Ferenc Fricsay on DG.

[BorisG]

That's my favorite for 1 & 3.
I do not care for the Michelangeli/Giulini much-praised 5, which is slower than I like. I fear Giulini had too much influence on that recording.

Argerich (EMI) for 2. Fleisher for 4. Gelber for 5.

[samtrb]

Gelber for 5.

Why this recording is not well known??

Have you watched the DVD "The Art of Piano"?

There's a section on Michelangeli which is quite fascinating...the accompanying performance of a Scarlatti sonata is jaw-dropping! It's interesting to note how he milked his "pop-star" status by hardly performing and keeping his repertoire very select...also too his gestures and perfectly crafted appearance in performance...always so aware of what he looked like to the audience... *shakes head*

-LB

i watched that DVD a long time ago, i remember it said ABM never plays wrong notes, i like his tone and articulation above other things

[Bonehelm]

For the PC1 try Lang/Eiscenbach, it's actually very good. It was nominated for the Grammy.

[BorisG]

Why this recording is not well known??

Blame the label. He had more of an LP career with EMI, and mostly in Europe. When the LP career was over, he had moved on to Denon, with a lucrative following in Japan and sections of Europe.

Some also thought Gelber was in the shadow of Barenboim at EMI, and not given as much opportunity.

EMI Encore has released three CDs in the past three years. There is also a good French EMI double available.

[Todd]

For the PC1 try Lang/Eiscenbach, it's actually very good.

No it's not.

[MN Dave]

It was nominated for the Grammy.

I thought you said it was very good? 

[MN Dave]

Hey Todd,

Are there any good Gulda LvB concertos?

[Todd]

Are there any good Gulda LvB concertos?

Good, yes; great no, at least based on what I've heard.  His complete cycle with Horst Stein on Decca is variable, tending to the good, but better can be had in every concerto.  His recording of the 1st with Bohm that comes with his first take of the sonatas is a bit heavy handed.  There's a new disc of him playing the 1st and 4th on Orfeo, and apparently he directs from the keyboard, but I've not yet heard it.

[MN Dave]

Good, yes; great no, at least based on what I've heard.  His complete cycle with Horst Stein on Decca is variable, tending to the good, but better can be had in every concerto.  His recording of the 1st with Bohm that comes with his first take of the sonatas is a bit heavy handed.  There's a new disc of him playing the 1st and 4th on Orfeo, and apparently he directs from the keyboard, but I've not yet heard it.

I am impressed by Gulda's articulation in the sonatas. Oh, well...

[bassio]

Good, yes; great no, at least based on what I've heard.  His complete cycle with Horst Stein on Decca is variable, tending to the good, but better can be had in every concerto.  His recording of the 1st with Bohm that comes with his first take of the sonatas is a bit heavy handed.  There's a new disc of him playing the 1st and 4th on Orfeo, and apparently he directs from the keyboard, but I've not yet heard it.

This was the cycle that was included with his sonatas in a set?

[bassio]

a far cry from the romanticism of Schnabel

Do you consider Schnabel a Romantic??

[Todd]

This was the cycle that was included with his sonatas in a set?

Yes - the cycle with Stein was in the Decca Australia packaging of the Amadeo cycle.  The recording with Bohm was in the Decca Original Masters box devoted to Gulda.

[Holden]

Listen to his Op. 111, a jaw-dropping performance. ABM was a classicist at heart and his interpretation of this is a far cry from the romanticism of Schnabel, Solomon, etc. It's scary how you can hear every single note so clearly, just like all of his other performances.

I can't agree with you here. I find ABM very mannered in this work and the arietta, one of the most gorgeous and sublime pieces of music ever written is cold, played too fast and shows very little understanding of what Beethoven wanted from this work. To be blunt - I rate ABM on very low on the scale of great Beethoven pianists.